Lyon vs FC Basel

The UEFA Europa League group-stage clash between Olympique Lyonnais and FC Basel will take place on Thursday, 23 October 2025, at the Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu, near Lyon, France. The match is set to kick off at 18:45 local time. This fixture is a crucial one for both sides as they continue their push for qualification from the group stage. Lyon will look to capitalize on home advantage, while Basel arrive aiming to cause an upset against one of Ligue 1’s more established European participants.

Lyon enter the game with several injury issues affecting their rotation options. Orel Mangala and Ernest Nuamah are both ruled out due to cruciate ligament injuries, while goalkeeper Remy Descamps remains unavailable as he recovers from a wrist problem. For Basel, Japanese full-back Keigo Tsunemoto will miss the trip with a muscle strain, and defender Finn van Breemen is not fully fit after a recent knock. Both sides will rely heavily on their bench depth, with Lyon expected to include young midfielder Skelly Alvero and winger Sael Kumbedi among the substitutes, while Basel’s bench is likely to feature attacking reinforcements to add pace in the second half.

From a tactical standpoint, Lyon’s coach Paulo Fonseca is expected to continue with a 4-2-3-1 formation focused on maintaining possession and using width to stretch Basel’s defensive lines. The team’s play will be built around controlling the midfield through Maxence Caqueret and Corentin Tolisso, while the attacking trio behind the striker will look to combine quickly and exploit spaces behind Basel’s backline. Basel’s manager, Fabio Celestini, is preparing a counter-attacking setup, likely in a 4-3-3 shape, emphasizing quick transitions through the wings and set-piece efficiency. The Swiss side will try to press selectively rather than maintaining a high line to avoid leaving gaps behind.

In France, local media have framed this as a must-win game for Lyon, pointing to their strong home record in European competitions. French outlets have praised the team’s recent defensive organization under Fonseca but also highlighted the lack of clinical finishing that has cost them points domestically. Meanwhile, the Swiss press has described Basel as a resilient side capable of frustrating higher-ranked opponents, noting that the team has been improving steadily in recent weeks. Commentators in both countries see this as a balanced contest where Lyon’s control will be tested against Basel’s speed and counterattacking precision.

Analysts in pre-match studio discussions have debated whether Lyon can maintain their defensive solidity while breaking down a disciplined Basel team. Many agree that Lyon are favorites due to their home advantage and superior squad depth, but some pundits warn that Basel’s quick wingers could exploit spaces if Lyon commit too many players forward. The general consensus among experts is that Lyon will dominate possession and territory, but Basel’s counterattacks and set-piece ability could make this a tightly contested match.

Watch and Download Lyon vs FC Basel full match replay and highlights, At Wednesday, October 23, 2025. The match played at Groupama Stadium, in Europa League, UEFA.

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